Remote control system



Dec. 23, 1941.

W. N. FAN NING REMOTE CONTROL SYTEM Filed July 5, 1938 NM W A H Fa Q .R x N a Ww/ a MW R w w PM? ma km a KQ a IN V EN TOR. Wa/zer Fann/n g @-2 M A TTORNEY Patented Dec. 23, 1941 more comer. srsram Walter N. Fanning, Alameda, Calii'., assignor to International Code Machine Company, Reno,

Nev a corporation of Nevada Application July 5, 1938, Serial No. 217,480

.1 Claim.

This invention relates generally to remote control systems of the type in which electrical impulses transmitted from one station are employed to carry out predetermined operations or functions at a remote receiving station. Such systems can be used for various purposes, in-

cluding the operation of printers for transmission of messages, or the remote automatic control of devices such as aircraft.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a system of the above character which can selectively effect a relatively large number of operations at a remote point, with a high degree of reliability and at relatively high speed.

A further object of the invention is to generally improve upon remote control systems of the type making use of rotary distributors. In this connection the present invention makes use of a time delay action in conjunction with the functioning circuits at the receiving end, thus making possible reliable operation of each functioning circuits, while at the same time the rotary distributing means are operated at high speed.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanyin drawing.

As previously specified the present invention makes use of rotary distributing means, located at transmitting and receiving stations. The rotary distributing means can consist of a single multiple contact rotary distributor at the transmitting station, and a device of like'construction at the receiving station. In order that the transmitting operator may monitor transmitted impulses, I prefer to use two rotary distributors at the transmitting station, whereby selected impulses are clearly indicated to the operator as they are transmitted. Where the system is to make possible two-way transmission and reception of signals, each station is provided with two rotary distributors, one being designated as a sending distributor, and the other as a receiv--' ing distributor. The equipment and circuit connections illustrated in the single figure of the drawing represent equipment located at one.

station, with the presumption that this equipment is to be used in conjunction with the remote station having like equipment. In the drawing the sending distributor has been marked S, and the receiving distributor R. The devices used in conjunction with distributors S preferably include a number of keys or like operating elements whereby the operator may select the disconnected from the motor.

function desired at the receiving end. Assuming that the system is to be used for the transmission of letters of the alphabet in the operation of a printer, a number of keys ma, lllb and I00 are provided, similar to a typewriter keyboard. As will bepresently explained, the. receiving distributor It connects with a number of relays, having delayed action, and which in turn control function circuits such as can be em-' ployed for the operation of a printer.

The construction of the distributors S and R need not be described in detail. Each distributor is provided with a number of spaced contacts, including a starting contact H, and additional contacts Ha, Nb and H0. The number of contacts employed may vary in accordance with the number of functions desired at the receiving end. For operating printers, about thirty contacts will suffice, in addition to the starting contact II. The contacts of each distributor are engaged by the rotary contact arms l4, and these arms are driven by a common elec- 1 tric motor It.

The distributors s and R should be driven at a rate in synchronism with driving of the corresponding distributors at the remote station. This can be accomplished by having the motors adaptedvfor absolute synchronous operation at constant speed. Various synchronizing means for this purpose are known tothose skilled in the art. The arrangement illustrated in the drawing makes use of start and stop operations, that is the distributors rotate one revolution from a starting position after which they are With such an arrangement the motors themselves need not be precisely synchronized, but may be merely of approximately the same speed.

In the drawing a one-revolution clutch l8 has been shown in the drive connection between motor l6 and the distributor S. Between distributors S and R there is another one-revolution clutch l9. Clutch I8 is released by a pivoted trip lever 2|, and clutch I! by a similar lever .22. The operation of these one-revolution clutches and their associated trip'levers, is identical in both instances. Referring for example to clutch l8, when lever 2| is swung to dis-engaged position the clutch engages so that motor [6 drives the arm I! of distributor S. When the arm has made one revolution cam means in conjunction with the clutch l8 again engages lever 2!, whereof which carries a bar 24 which in turn isadapted to be engaged and depressed by operation of any one of the keys. 'I'heother end of lever 23 has a cam arrangement 25, for establishing operative connections with lever arm 21. Lever arm 21 is operatively connected to the trip lever 2|, s that when lever 23 is rocked in a clockwise direction as viewed in the drawing, lever 21 is likewise rocked in a clockwise direction, to move trip lever 2| to tripped position.

Each of the keys are also adapted to individually actuate electrical contacts 28a, 28b and 280. In other words there is a pair of contacts for each key, and as a key is depressed its corresponding contact is automatically closed. One side of each of the contacts 28a, 28b and 280,

' is connected by an individual conductor to a corresponding contact on the distributor S. The other side of each of the contacts is connected to a common conductor 29, leading to one side of a circuit such as will be presently explained.

The sending circuit connected with distributor S preferably includes at least one electron relay 3 I, whereby signal impulses are amplified for operating the transmitting relay 32. The same electron relay is also utilized for repeating and amplifying received impulses, that is, impulses received from a remote station.

With the arrangement illustrated the electron relay 31 includes the usual plate 33, grid or control element 34, and cathode 35. The cathode 35 is connected to a conductor 36, which in turn connects to conductor 29 and the biasing battery 31. The grid 34 connects to a conductor 38, which in turn connects with the sending and receiving switches 39 and 4|. v Switch 39 when closed connects conductor 38 with a conductor 42, which in turn leads to the contact arm I 4 of sending distributor S. Receiving switch 4| when closed connects conductor 33 with the conductor 43, which is one of the lines 43, 44, by means of whichreoeived signals are impressed upon the apparatus. The other receiving line 44 connects to the cathode 35. Connected across the grid and cathode there is also a grid resistor 45, and a negative C-battery bias 41. In addition to the conductor 29 which leads from battery 31 to switches 28a, 28b and 280, there is another conductor 48 leading from battery 31 directly to the starting contact ll of distributor S.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that when switch 4| is closed and switch 39 open, received electrical impulses applied by conductors 43 and 44, are impressed directly upon the grid 34, whereby the plate circuit or output of relay 3 I, to be presently described, receives an amplified impulse.

Whn switch 4 is open and switch 39 closed, positive potentials are impressed upon the grid 34 from the battery 31, depending upon the manner in which the transmitting equipment is operated. In this connection it may be noted that negative C-battery 41 is preferably adjusted so that the plate current of relay 3| is normally negligible. Battery 31 is connected in such a manner that when applied to grid 34, the grid is made more positive to provide an amplified current flow in the relay output.

Referring now to the circuit connections to the receiving distributor R, I have shown'a plu- I rality of magnetic relays Ila, 5| b and 5|c, and

these relays are of the type which will aiiord I quick closing when energized, with delayed opening. One side of each oi these relays is connected by an individual conductor to corresponding contacts Ila, Nb and He. The other sides of the relaysv are connected to a common conductor 52, which leads to one terminator the transmitter relay 32. The starting contact H is connected by conductor 53 to the same side of relay 32, through the resistance 54. The contacts of relay 32 are shown controlling the transmission lines 55 and 51.

The plate 33 of electron relay 3| connects to one side of the magnetic device 58, the other side of which connects by conductor 59 with the contact arm H of distributor R. The armature BI ofdevice 53, is-mechanically connected to operate the trip lever 22. Thus when the windings of device 58 are energized trip lever 22 is moved to dis-engaged position.

The source of B-battery potential for the electron relay 3| is represented by battery 52. One side of this battery connects to cathode 35, and the other side connects'to the transmitting relay 32, in series with the electromagnet 53. The magnet 53 operates an armature 54, which is connected to a lever 35 and latch bar 66. Each of the keys of the transmitting apparatus is provided with a recess 51 and a shoulder or projection 53, which automatically engage beneath the latch bar 55, when a particular key is pressed;

Such latching engagement retains a key in depressed position, after it is operated, until mag-- net 63 is energized. In connection with each of the keys it is desirable to have means whereby a key may be manually locked in depressed position. Such means can consist of one or more latches adapted to be manually engaged with the key projections 12.

The system as described can be used for either line transmission of signals, or radio transmission and reception. If radio transmission and reception is used, the liiies 43 and 44 connect to the output of a suitable radio receiver. Lines 55 and 51 connect to a radio transmitter, whereby the operation of the transmitting relay 32 properly modulates or keys the radio transmitter, to produce impulses of the duration and type desired. The radio transmitter and receiver at a given station, may operate upon different frequencies.

Operation of the system described above can now be explained as follows: The motor I5 is placed in operation, and if it is desired to transmit impulses, the sending switch 39 is closed, while switch 4| remains open. At that time the contact arm for distributor S is on a dead or blank contact immediately preceding contact while the contact arm for distributor R is on contact When one of the sending keys is depressed, clutch I3 is closed and contact arm H of distributor S moves to contact II. This causes the potential of battery 31 to be applied to the grid 34 of the electron relay 3|, through a circuit including conductor 48, starting contact |l, distributor arm |4, conductor 42, sm'tch 39 conductor 53, resistor 54, the windings. of

transmitter relay 32, and magnet 63, back to the other side of battery 62. One revolution clutch I9 is thus released and this release immediately results in driving of the arm M for distributor S, together with driving of the distributor R, since at that time the clutch I9 is also engaged. When the contact arm I4 of distributor S reaches the contact corresponding to the key depressed. as for example contact llb, another impulse is applied to the grid of electron relay 3|, because at that time switch 28b is closed, thus causing a circuit to be established through this switch, contact Nb, and the contact arm. The impulse as amplified by the electron relay 3| is applied to transmitting relay 32' and is also applied to relay |,b, because the contact arm of distributor R is also engaging its contact I lb. After the distributors have rotated" one revolution they are stopped automatically by disengagement of clutches |8, |9. At the receiving station the im-- pulses are received on lines 43 and 44, and switch 4| is closed while switch 39 is open. Received impulses are impressed directly upon the grid of electron relay 3| whereby amplified impulses are applied to the parts connected with the distributor R. At the receiving station receipt of a starting impulse starts the distributors in operation to receive a selective impulse.

The delayed opening of relays 5|a, 5|b and 5|c can be over a time period that is slightly less than that required for one revolution of the distributors. Where it is desired to continue a function for an indefinite period of time, each of the relays 5|a, 5") and tile can have its opening delayed over a period of time slightly greater than that required for one revolution of the distributors. With properly synchronized motors a sending key can be locked down, thus causin the distributors to run continuously and causing continuous repetition of a signal. Should the corresponding receiving relay be such as to have a time period of delay greater than the time required for one revolution of the distributors, the corresponding relay circuit will be continuously closed. Such operation is desirable for the remote control of devices such as aircraft.

Irrespective of the precise time period afiorded for the relays 5|a, 5|b and file, the use of a time delay makes for positive operation of the function circuits controlled by these relays, thus making it possible to operate the distributors at high speed without sacrificing reliability.

I claim:

In a remote control system of the type in which any one of a number of predetermined operations can be selectively efiected by impulses transmitted from one station to the other through a single transmission circuit, normally quiescent rotatable distributing means located at each station, means for efiecting synchronous driving rotations of said distributing means when each said operation is to be performed, each said distributing means being provided with angularly spaced contacts whereby different circuits connected to said contacts are closed at intervals spaced as to time within the rotation period of the distributing means, sending keys at the transmitting station for selectively applying impulses to the contacts-of the associated rotating distributing means to provide impulses spaced as to time in accordance with the driving of said rotating distributing means, means automatically operative to positively lock the actuated sending key in sending position until the second impulse is transmitted. and means operative to utilize the second impulse to release the key-locking means.

WALTER N. FAN NING. 

